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Thomas W

Well worth doing. We combined it with the Get-On, Get-Off tour so we had a guided tour through the city with a live guide, got off at the Tower to get directly to the gate and join the next tour. The Beefeaters do a great job of story-telling. After the tour, we used the boar ride on the Thames instead of the bus to return to Westminster.

Of all the trips out of London, I think this is the best choice. Warwick Castle is well-worth visiting and they have live hosts and well-done wax figures throughout the living areas to give some life to the rooms. There also are demonstrations in the yards. We had an excellent tour of Oxford with our knowledgeable guide. Visiting Shakespeare's home is not worth the cost, but Stratford-upon-Avon is a great place for lunch.

Excellent guide saved the tour when the changing of the guard was canceled because it was the opening of Parliament and the Queen's speech. With Westminster and the area around the Palace blocked traffic, the guide directed the driver to a spot near Pall Mall where we exited and had a front row to the pageantry of the Queen going from the Palace to Westminster.

This was an excellent tour with two very excellent guides. We had a good city tour of Zurich, a tour and free time in Lucerne and then the fantastic ride to the top of Mount Titlis. Take a warm coat for the Titlis portion. There is a nice Chalet with eating at the top, inner tube rides on a small hill and a path through the glacier.

The Schonbrunn Palace is a must tour if you are in Vienna. The Hapsburgs ruled for 600 years, providing many kings and queens throughout Europe. An excellent guide did a good job of explaining the history of the Hapsburgs and the life of the Empress Theresa Marie.

The historically restored portion of Munich is very centralized with easy access to all parts by tram. The bus tour cannot enter the pedestrian-only center of town, so those buildings are missed. The trip to the suburbs to see the Olympic Stadium is not worth the bother. You cannot get very close and the stadium is hidden for the most part. Much better to use the walking tours.

Munich was headquarters for Hitler in the years before he became premier. While many of the places Hitler built purposely have not been reconstructed, the guide does a good job of tracing Hitler's efforts to become known by visiting the beer halls and making speeches, his failed "putsch," and his rise to power.